Walka Water Works chimney exclusion zone extended as funding sought for stabilisation works

newy.com.au – Maitland City Council and the NSW Government have agreed to extend the exclusion zone around the historic chimney stack at Walka Water Works after meeting on site to assess the structure’s stability and safety and discuss the next steps.

The expanded exclusion zone, to be formed using a 45m radius from the chimney, is aimed at reducing the impact of a potential failure while additional funding is sought. Council said urgent work was needed to mitigate the risk associated with the chimney stack, while options were explored to stabilise the historically important structure and address asbestos contamination at the site.

Maitland City Council has committed $100,000 to validate previous design works and develop a tender package to be released once the works are fully funded. General manager Jeff Smith said “the wellbeing and safety of our community is the highest priority.”

“By working with the NSW Government, it has been identified that out of an abundance of caution, urgent action needs to be taken to extend the exclusion zone around the chimney stack, to mitigate any risk associated with it failing,” Mr Smith said.

Council said user groups had been contacted and alternative access would be provided via the closed entry off Scobies Lane, with signage to be installed on site for the relevant groups. Additional fencing will be installed from Monday 23 March to clearly mark the exclusion zone.